Bottle carrier



May31,1949. '.,D SWARTA 2,472,005

BOTTLE CARRIER' Filed Dec. '12, A1944K l 3 Sheets-Sheet May 31 1949 l J. DE swART 2,472,005

- BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Dec. 12, 1944 s she'ets-sheet 2 J. DE SWART BOTTLE CARRIER May 31, 1949.

3 sheets-sheet s Filed Dec. l2, 1944 Patented May 3 1, 1949 i,

BOTTLE CARRIER Jan de Swart, Los

poration, Chicago, ware Angeles, Calif., assignor, byl mesne assignments, to Shellmar Products Ill., a corporation of Dela- Corl Application December 12, 1944, Serial No. 567,863

11 Claims.

My invention relates to bottle carriers, more particularly to carriers adapted to support a group of bottles so that they can be conveniently carried as a unit. Among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a ticularly inexpensive and simple of manufacture, and -Which employs a minimum amount of material so that the bottle carrier may be disposable or expendable,

Second, to provide a bottle carrier which engages and supports the bottles by their neck portions in such a manner that they are securely restrained against accidental release, but may be readily removed when desired, one at a time,

lwithout disturbing the remaining bottles.

Third, to provide a bottle carrier which may be so arranged as to provide support for additional tiers of bottles so that groups of bottles in their bottle carriers may be stacked or otherwise packed.

With the above and other objects in View as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial sectional, partial side elevational View of one form of my bottle carrier;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing frag- `mentarily a bottle suspended therein;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the carrier in its open position and illustrating by solid lines the position of a bottle when supported in the carrier and by dotted lines the position of a bottle when in position for removal from the carrier;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the carrier when in the open position shown in Fig. 3 and indicating by dotted outlines the position of a bottle when supported and when free of the carrier;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through 5--5 of Fig. 6, showing a modied form of my bottle carrier wherein the upper side thereof is fiat so that the other bottles may be set thereon as indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan, partial sectional View of the construction shown in Fig. 5; y

Fig. 'l is a partial sectional, partial side elevational View of a further modified form of my bottle carrier, the view being taken through 1-1 of Fig. 8; t

Fig. 8 is a partial plan, partial sectional view of this forrn of bottle carrier taken through 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 9-9 of Fig. '1, showing by solid bottle carrier which is parmaterial.

lines the position of two bottles when supported manner in which the bottles are removed therefrom;

Fig. l() is a partial side elevational, partial sectional view of a further modified form of my bottle carrier;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view thereof through lI-ll of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a developed view thereof.

With reference rst to the construction shown in Figs. 1 through 4, the bottle carrier is formed of a single piece of sheet material which may be cardboard, plastic, or other suitable foldable The carrier comprises a base plate l, side walls 2 formed along the two sides ofthe base plate, and a top deck 3 formed by bringing the extremities of the sheet over the base plate. The extremities of the sheet from which the carrier is formed, are then turned upwardly to form a handle 4 extending along the center of the top deck 3. Registering slots 5 are provided in the handle. One of the slots may be entirely cut out, whereas the other slot need be cut on only three sides to form a flap 6 which is folded through the slots to reinforce the handle and secure together the two parts from which the lhandle is formed.

A series of clearance openings 1 are cut in the base plate l and adjacent portions of the side `Walls 2. In the structure illustrated, three such clearance openings are provided along each side of the base plate. The clearance openings are circular and large enough to admit the head H of a bottle B including the cap C thereon. The side of each clearance opening 1 formed in the base plate l, is provided with a lateral slot B of smaller diameter. The slots 8 are large enough to admit the neck N of the bottle but are too small to pass the head H. The positions of the slots 8 which may be designated neck-supporting slots, are such that when the side Walls 2 are in rightangular relation with the base l, the side walls hold the bottles in the neck-supporting slots 3. In order to release the bottles it is necessary to open the carrier by unfastening the handle il and spreading it apart to the position shown-'in Figs. 3 and 4. The bottles may then be moved from the solid Aline to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3

and removed.

Reference is now directed to the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8, and 9. The construction 4here illustrated is likewise formed from a single sheet of material and comprises a bottom plate Il, side walls l2, and deck flaps I3. The carrier is thus folded into a tube of rectangular crosssection. The top deck naps I3 overlap each other and are provided with registering hand slots I4. Ones fingers may be readily inserted in the slots and straddle the head of the central bottle so that the carrier and bottles may be easily transported.

The bottle carrier may be lprovided lwith the openings 7 and neck supporting slots f8 as .shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in this respect is similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 through 4, .1in which case the carrier is unfolded in order to release the bottles.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, a modifedmeansof :supporting the bottles is illustrated. :In y'this iconstruction the base plate I I is `prnv'ided with v'a-row of centrally disposed clearance openings IT which may be rectangular in form. Opposite sides `df the clearance openings are provided with neck supporting slots I8 directed toward the sidewalls I2. The openings I1 and slots I8 are so proportioned that when two bottles are-supported by the slots I8 they hang in contact with each other .and force their neck portions tothe lateral .eX- tremities of the slots I8. It is merely necessary to tilt one of the .bottles as .indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, in order to move the head H thereof into the clearance opening I 1.

Both of the constructions shown .in Figs. 5 and 6 and in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, vrequire a .minimum amount of material. Furthermore, the `top deck :flaps I3 are flat and provide a .surface .for :the rsupport of other bottles, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5. .Thus a number of carriers with their bottles inserted therein may be readily stacked in tiers. Furthermore, Vwhen the :bottles lare packed in boxes forshipment, fthey vmay .first be inserted 'in their respective `carriers, for the carriers do not take up anyappreciable space that would otherwise be used v-to .pack the bottles. While two bottles areshownincontact with each fother in Fig. 9,-it should 'bepointed out `that the Aneck supportingslots I8 may be sufficiently wide to permit insertion/of a'spacer betweenthe b ottles when a number of units-are packed ina shipping fcase. This yis likewise true of the arrangement Eshown in Figs. :5 andf6.

'Reference is 'nowdirected to the .construction shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. A:The .construction Lhere'shown'is likewise kformedvironi a-single sheet of material vand Walls'22, and top deck portions :23. As'in therrst described structure the extremities nof Ithe sheet :fromwhich the ycarrier is formed, are bent up- "Wardly from the top ydeckto form 'a handle .24 fhaving mating slots 'may becompletely' cutout, whereas-,ther other slot 'may be only partially cut out to forma flap :Z6 :Jadapted tobe folded'through the slotsto secure Lthe two .partsof the handle 24rtogether. 4The side Walls 22 are provided with a series of clearance :slots 21. Neck supporting slotsz28vextend from the' clearance slots tothe bottom edges ofthe side walls-22 andintothe'sides of the base platefZI. When 'the baseplate, `side walls,.and top deck :portions are folded, they define a tube of rectangular cross-section. The heads-of the bottles are'adapted'to be inserted laterally into the-tube VthLsforrned through the `clearance slotsZ'I, and .be lowered untilengaging the neck supporting slots 28. The juncture of the clearanceislotsfand rzneck. supporting slots'form, when-the `carrier is nfolded, upstandingrshoulders'zii whichprevent the -:Lhottles from being removedfromthe.carrier un- .fs-less they'are raised from the :base` vplate 2|.

lIn the.'construction=.shownfin Figs. .110, :11, and

comprises a base plate-2|, side i therein. YOne 'of the -slots Cal 12, the top deck portions 23 are at as in the case of the constructions shown in Figs. 5 to 8, and serve similarly to provide a surface for the support of other bottles so that the carriers and their bottles may be stacked. The handle 24 forms a. spacer between the bottles so stacked, as shown lby^dotted1lines inFig. 1-1.

yllVhileits preferredto make thesbottle carriers from inexpensive materials such as sheet card- .hoard or plastic materials, particularly in regard to the constructions shown in Figs. 1 through 6 'wherein the carrier must be open or spread apart -in order Atcrelease the bottles, it should be noted that ithecarriers, particularly the constructions shown in Figs. 7 .through 12, inclusive, may be formed of metal :and be relatively rigid in which case, of course, the carriers are used repeatedly.

Many other embodiments of the invention may .be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

`I claim:

.1. A bottle carrierl comprising.asinglefpiece of fsheetmaterial .folded to vprovideia bottom wall, a top wal-l'andrside Valls joiningsaid top and bottom -.wa-lls,.said bottom l-Wall being substantially horizontal and having means for supporting by .their necks .a row of bottles, said .top wall .overlying `the topsofsaidbottles .to forma-deck for supporting by their base ends a tier ,of bottles, and said top .wall :being provided .with .handle means .2. yA .carrier ,for .bottles .having reduced -neck `portions and enlarged headportions,` comprising: a bottom, `a ,top, ,side Wallsjoining said top and bottom;,said=bottom having rowsof apertures adjacent said'side wallsadapted to receive theneck Afpcrtions of bottles, andsuspend said .bottles by -their head portions; ,said carrier having Vmeans Yadjoining said aperturesadapted to. clear andpass the heads of said bottles; said top overlyingsaid .bottles to form -a vdeck for .supporting by their baseendsa .tier Yof bottles; anda handle for said top wherebyrsaidlbottles arecarried by said bottom withsaidbottomina substantially horizon- .talposition- .3. .A carrier-.for 4bottles having .reduced neck .portions and enlarged headportions, comprising: a tubular ,member of .rectangular cross-section ,including .a vbottom plate, side walls and .a top ;deck; said .bottom plate .having a Vplurality of `spaced bottle vneck receiving Yand head retaining openings Awhereby bottlesmay yhang suspended .from said member, there `beingclearance slots in the side walls in communication `with said opening to permit removahofsaidbottles fromvsaid fmember; the top deck of ,said memberadapted .tofsupportby their base-endsother bottles where y said carriers andthe .bottles carried thereby may be stacked in tiers.

A. A construction .as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said lopenings `are arranged in rows along the marginsof said bottom plate and conftinue into said-,side Walls and said clearance slots are disposed in saidgside walls :whereby said bottles are 4removed :bylaterally outward movement relative to said-.bottom,platel vandelevated tolen- ,ter-:said: clearance slots.

.5. `Abottle vcarrieradapted to support a group fof :bottles by their-neckportions, comprising: a Vsingle piece of foldable sheet material including a .bottom plate, side walls, rtopdck and a handle :for said top deck; said bottom plate having a plurality of bottle supporting slots which include :neck `receivingandhead supportingportions, and :headtclearingportions, said -head clearing portions extending into said side Walls and being inaccessible when said sheet material is folded but being accessible when said sheet material is unfolded.

6. A carrier for bottles having reduced neck portions and enlarged head portions comprising a bottom, a top, and side walls joining said top and bottom, said bottom having rows of apertures adjacent said side walls adapted to receive the neck portions of bottles and suspend said bottles by their head portions, said bottom having clearance openings connecting said bottle neck receiving apertures in pairs, said clearance openings being adapted to clear and pass the heads of said bottles, said 'top overlying said bottles and having a handle forming portion whereby said bottles are carried by said bottom with said bottom in a substantially horizontal position.

7. A bottle carrier comprising a single piece of sheet material folded into substantially rectangu- 8. A bottle carrier comprising a one-piece sheet material frame having a top deck, a bottom deck and upstanding side walls connecting said top and bottom decks, said bottom deck being generally horizontal and provided with rows of slots for receiving the neck portions of bottles and supporting the same therefrom, said slots extending outwardly to merge with clearance apertures which terminate in said upstanding side walls whereby the heads of the bottles may be passed through said clearance apertures to engage the necks of the bottles with said supporting slots.

9. A bottle carrier comprising a top wall, a bottom Wall and vertical side walls connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall including portions provided with handle forming means, said bottom wall being provided with rows of bottle neck supporting slots adjacent each of the side walls, said supporting slots extending a short distance into said side walls and said side walls having clearance apertures for passing the heads of bottles whereby the bottles may be positioned for supporting engagement in said supporting slots.

10. A bottle carrier comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and vertical side walls connecting said top and bottom walls, said top wall including portions provided with handle forming means, said bottom wall and said side Walls being provided With rows of transverse slots having relatively wide bottle head clearing portions terminating in said side walls and relatively narrow bottle neck engaging and supporting portions terminating in said bottom wall whereby bottle heads may be passed through said relatively wide portions of said slots to engage the necks of the bottles in supporting relation in said relatively narrow portions of said slots.

11. A carrier for bottles having reduced neck portions and enlarged head portions comprising a bottom, a top, side walls joining said top and bottom, said bottom having rows of spaced apertures extending transverely thereof and directed towards said side walls, said apertures adapted to receive the neck portions of bottles and suspend the bottles by their head portions and said sides having clearance slots adjoining said apertures adapted to clear and pass the heads of said bottles into said apertures.

JAN DE SWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,097,802 Rivas Nov. 2, 1937 2,100,223 Reed Nov. 23, 1937 2,248,234 Hickman et al July 8, 1941 2,252,235 Snelling Aug, 12, 1941 2,320,440 Kruea et al June 1, 1943 2,330,699 Flamm Sept. 28, 1943 2,348,187 Beskin May 9, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 106,796 Australia Feb. 28, 1939 

